William E. "Bill" Washabaugh Sr.

WASHABAUGH, William E. Sr. "Bill" of Bay City, Michigan and Big Pine Key, Florida. William E. "Bill" Washabaugh, Sr., age 77 years, passed away Thursday, December 17, 2009, at his home following a courageous battle with brain cancer. He was born in Alpena, Michigan on September 20, 1932. Mr. Washabaugh was raised in Saginaw and graduated from Arthur Hill High School. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a BSE in civil engineering and became a licensed professional civil engineer in the State of Michigan. After graduation he went to work as a structural product design engineer for Lamar Pipe and Tile Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was his lifelong dream to have his own family business. In 1958, he founded Northern Concrete Pipe, Inc. in Bay City with his Parents (the late Edward P. and Beatrice A. (Timm) Washabaugh and his brother (the late E. Peter Washabaugh II). He had been President of the company since 1992. He has lived most of his lifetime in Bay City with his wife, Norma who was Corporate Secretary of the Company, working in the office next to him. In his spare time Mr. Washabaugh most enjoyed spending time with his family, either hunting with them at the family property near Mikado, Michigan, or teaching them to deep sea fish around the winter home in the Florida Keys. He was an advisor for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He was an advisor to the Right To Life Committee. He is a Past President of the University of Michigan Alumni Association and was an Area Recruiter for Bo Schembecler. He was also a long time President of the Concrete Pipe Association of Michigan. He recently was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year Award at Saginaw Valley State University. He was extremely proud of the employees at both of Northern Concrete Pipe's production facilities -- each recently earned the Governor's Gold and Silver Safety Awards, achievements which no other heavy industrial company has ever attained in Michigan. Mr. Washabaugh is a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church where he has served as an usher, lector, president of the school board and standing appointed member of the administration commission. He took great pride in his involvement in the remodeling of the Church recently. In particular, he was very happy to have designed and manufactured the Baptismal fountain with custom products manufactured by his company. He was also a Eucharistic Minister at St. Peters Catholic Church on Big Pine Key, Florida. Mr. Washabaugh was a devoted believer in Catholic School Education and donated much of his time and finances to scholarships promoting this belief. He also was a significant anonymous and discreet contributor to many local and State charities. Surviving is his wife, the former Norma J. Alexander. They were married over fifty five years ago in Saginaw on January 30, 1954. Also surviving are seven children: William Washabaugh, Jr. and his wife Paula, Thomas Washabaugh and his wife Catherine, all of Bay City, Dr. Ann Mattise and her husband, Ronald of Davisburg, Robert Washabaugh and his wife, Rochelle of Charlotte, John Washabaugh and his wife, Sherri, of Dimondale, James Washabaugh and his wife Kathleen of Bay City, Susan Ovreset and her husband, John of Dimondale. Mr. Washabaugh is also survived by eighteen grandchildren: Benjamin Washabaugh and his wife, Lori, Christopher Washabaugh and his wife, Melissa, all of Bay City, Julie Washabaugh of Ann Arbor, Jennifer Washabaugh of Bay City, Mary Mattise, Rose Mattise, William Mattise and Igor Mattise, all of Davisburg, Ashley Washabaugh and Meagan Washabaugh of Charlotte, Sarah Washabaugh, Emily Washabaugh and Hannah Washabaugh, all of Dimondale, Alexandra Washabaugh and Olivia Washabaugh, both of Bay City, Matthew Ovreset, Stephanie Ovreset and Christina Ovreset, all of Dimondale. His five great grandchildren include: Isabel, Simon, Seth, Cassidy and Elijah Washabaugh, all of Bay City. The Washabaugh Family would like to offer a special Thank You to the wonderful care givers from Compassionate Care and Heartland Hospice who did a passionate job of providing care in helping Mr. Washabaugh through this trying time. They also wish to Thank Dr. James Campau DO who has been much more than a family physician to our family in these times. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 21, 2009 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. The Rev. Fr. Robert S. Gohm will preside. The Rite of Committal will be in Calvary Cemetery, Kawkawlin. Friends may call at the Stapish Cederberg Funeral Home West on Sunday from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m., where the Parish Rosary will be recited at 4:00 p.m. Mr. Washabaugh will lie in state at the church Monday morning from 9:00 a.m. until the service hour. Memorials are available at the funeral home for Holy Trinity Catholic School.